The BVRLA Fleet Friendly Charging Index provides a high-level overview of how much progress local authorities (LAs) across the UK have made on their local charging infrastructure plans. Fleets play a central role in the transition to zero emission transport and the Index gives a snapshot of how much focus they are currently being given.
How to help shape Local Authority plans
The BVRLA updated its Fleet Charging Guide to help local authorities as they try to meet the diverse charging needs of electric fleets. With the roll-out of charging infrastructure increasingly being devolved to local government, the association’s ‘Fleet Charging Guide’ highlights some key fleet use cases and how they can best be supported on their zero emission journey.
How can local authorities demonstrate their fleet friendly credentials?
The Fleet Friendly Charging Infrastructure Pledge is a high level Pledge for local authorities to commit to considering the needs of fleets as part of the development of their local EVI strategy. Accompanying the Pledge is a set of practical points that give a steer as to how local authorities might collaborate with the sector to create ‘fleet friendly’ charging infrastructure.
Any local authority that signs the Pledge will be publicly demonstrating their commitment to support road transport decarbonisation. The BVRLA demonstrates this commitment by displaying logos on the Pledge webpage, changing ratings in the BVRLA Fleet Friendly Charging Index to green and features the local authorities in Pledge communications activity.
About the Index
The BVRLA’s membership of over 1,000 companies engaged in vehicle rental, leasing and fleet management is leading the charge to bring, clean, green transport solutions to UK roads right now. They can only do that effectively with the support of local authorities and national government. The electric vehicle ecosystem is a fragile one. Drivers need access to a fast, affordable, reliable and secure charging infrastructure. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for this, especially when considering the varied needs of fleets up and down the country.
The Fleet Friendly Charging Index was designed to enable the close collaboration this challenge requires. Drivers, fleet operators, charge point operators, distribution network operators, local authorities and national government, must come together to develop a charging infrastructure that works for all road users.
Although steps have been taken in the right direction since last years Index, more collaboration is clearly required to create the best possible charging network that works for all parties across the whole of the UK.
What it tells us
The results (from Q4 2023 and Q1 2024 data) show that:
- 5% of local authorities have clearly engaged with fleets, up on 3% in 2023
- 49% of local authorities have an EV strategy, an increase from 37% in 2023
- 57% of local authorities have a designated contact point for EV infrastructure compared to 38% in 2023
Next steps for the BVRLA
In conjunction with our Fleet Charging Guide, we will be engaging with local authorities the length and breadth of the UK - starting with a launch event in London in March 2024. Whilst commendable progress has been delivered since last year's research, this year's Index highlights where collaboration is still required most, while the Fleet Charging Guide outlines a number of key recommendations to help local authorities in making the first steps to a fleet friendly EV infrastructure plan.
Through work with central government, alongside regional engagement, the BVRLA will push for fleet needs to be considered at every level. With continued, considered collaboration, EV charging infrastructure decisions can be made to create a network that is suitable for all users, all over the UK.
One easy way for local authorities to show their support for fleets is to sign up to the BVRLA's Fleet Friendly Charging Pledge.
Next steps for you
The Fleet Friendly Charging Index enables you to understand which local authorities are working closely with fleets and crucially where there are named contacts that you might be able to reach out to. We encourage all fleets to use it as a tool in their interactions with local authorties and other stakeholders.
The Index is also a living resource that the BVRLA will be updating continually, if there are local authorities that require updated ratings, please reach out to [email protected]. We would love to deepen our understanding of local authority activities; FOIs are only able to convey so much.
